Books by author Steven Parr are about happiness and personal development.

Month: March 2016

When you pucker up, it’s just natural to close your eyes right? Did you ever wonder why? Well, researchers tell the Sunday Times it’s really a matter of how the brain works. If you left your eyes open when you kissed, your brain would be overwhelmed with too much information. When you kiss, don’t look, keep it simple and enjoy the tactile moment! Your brain will thank you.

An Australian study shows retirement is good for you. A study of seniors showed they increased physical activity after retirement and reduced bad health habits. Researchers at the University of Sydney found on average, sedentary time decreased by 67 minutes a day. Seniors became more active and tended to examine things like diet and negative habits like smoking. Those who improved their lifestyle most tended to have retired from full time work. This study confirms my personal observations. I can honestly say I’ve never met a retired person who was unhappy with retirement, in fact most are busier than ever – and loving it.

If you want to be healthy and avoid disease, try giving a little. Research by University at Albany economics professor Baris Yoruk seems to confirm that if you are charitable you are less likely to be sick. Yoruk analysed tax data showing charitable donations and found that increased allowable deductions for charitable giving were linked to increased health in households that gave more.

He found that only 0.8 percent of the charitable group in his research reported poor health. 36.6 percent reported excellent health and rates of heart attack, cancer, high blood pressure and other diseases were lower. Among those who did not give, 4.9 percent reported having poor health and only 20.5 percent reported having excellent health. It seems those who give shall recieve a life with fewer medical issues.

A study by researchers at the University of Maryland shows there’s a simple key to being more creative. Just start believing you’re creative. Study authors Denis Dumas and Kevin Dunbar, from the university’s Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, asked participants to imagine themselves as either an “eccentric poet”, or a “rigid librarian”. Participants were then asked to do tasks indicating levels of divergent thinking. Those who imagined themselves as poets displayed more divergent thinking, which equates to more creativity. Writing a book? Imagine yourself as a highly creative, slightly eccentric person!

Just being positive and giving thanks for what you have can dramatically change your brain according to several studies. A recent study published in NeuroImage shows that months after a simple task of writing down grateful thoughts, the brain is still wired to feel thankful. Researchers used MRI scans to study brain regions connected to desire to help and feeling thankful. Three months after a “pay it forward” task the brains of people involved in the study were still lighting up with activity in the gratitude region.

– Post by Steven Parr

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Steven Parr, author of ”The Science of Being Happy”

I write about making life better. We all deserve to live with less stress. We can achieve a happier mindset. Let's look at how we can be physically, emotionally and spiritually strong.